10. Severn
SEVERN
When I opened my eyes, the vampire staring back at me was the same one that I had noticed at the other sales.
His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his features were soft around his round dark eyes.
“What is happening? Who are you?” I was so confused.
The same vision that had been plaguing me for months had just overtaken my senses.
Ceril forced me into that cave once again.
The vision shattered when this vampire spoke, ripping me from the scene that was playing out in my head.
“First I just need to know that you’re okay.” The vampire spoke softly.
Looking around, I wasn’t sure how to answer that question.
Searching the near-empty room for some clue to what answer I should give this strange being.
Instead, I decided to be honest. At this point, what did it matter anyway?
“I don’t know how to answer that question.
” Shrugging, I looked at the dark-haired being, and a tear fell down my cheek.
A single tear that I couldn’t have controlled even if I wanted to.
“Aiden, hurry up. I hear something.” The taller, silver-haired vampire said from the doorway.
“My name is Aiden. Milo and I,” he gestured to the vampire who stood at the doorway. “Are here to help you.”
Confusion washed over my face. “Help me?”
“We work for Vea.”
As soon as those words left the vampire’s mouth, I wanted to go with him. I wasn’t sure if being with my mother would be any better than being with Ceril, but there was only one way to find out.
Knowing that I never should have existed was a burden I didn’t wish upon myself.
Being thrust into the life I currently lived was never what I would have chosen.
Every being had a weakness. At least if being with Vea was worse than being with Ceril, my weakness would be closer than it ever was before.
Moving so that I could stand, Aiden and I stood face to face. I was slightly taller than him, but he was built wider than I was, clearly training regularly to build muscle. “What can I do?” I asked, looking directly at Aiden.
“Getting out of here is the first step.” Aiden said as he turned toward the door and I followed. “Ceril has hired a wolf pack as extra security, and they’re watching the hallway. We knocked out two, but they probably have backup by now.”
We inched out of the room with Milo in the lead and Aiden behind me.
I tried to recall any information I could about how Ceril had planned security for tonight that would help us.
Doing my best not to listen to the auction happening on stage, I scoured my memory for what was discussed late last week when Ceril spoke with the werewolves.
“He only has one pack back here, a small one. It’s an alpha and two betas.” My voice was quiet, but I tried to be loud enough for both Milo and Aiden to hear me.
Aiden pushed in front of me when we reached the door that led into the hallway. “One of the rooms near the back right corner should have an exit to the outside. We will just need to make it there. “Do you know what security is like outside?” Aiden had turned to me now expecting an answer.
Thinking back on the conversation Ceril had, I answered, “There are two packs outside. They’re patrolling the perimeter. I don’t remember what the rotation was, though.” I truly didn’t, and I was kicking myself for not paying closer attention.
Milo and Aiden looked at each other and nodded.
Slowly pulling the door open, Milo poked his head into the warehouse hallway.
I knew the room in the back corner they mentioned was the room that Ceril locked me in for weeks at a time.
The door to the outside was how he brought me in and out so I wouldn’t tarnish his precious auction house.
Milo waved us out into the hallway to follow him. Surprisingly, there were no werewolves in the hallway.
Our footsteps were almost inaudible as we walked to the door of my torture chamber.
Milo turned back to us and motioned, trying to get Aiden’s attention. “Which one?” He mouthed, pointing to the doors at the back corner of the room.
Before Aiden could answer, shouting sounded from the end of the corridor. Aiden pulled me back behind him and shoved me away from himself and Milo. “Try to stay out of sight.” He said as I backed away against the opposite wall.
Milo and Aiden disappeared around the corner, and I heard shouting, followed by punches and loud thuds to the ground.
After just a few moments, Milo and Aiden rounded the corner winded, shaking out their fists.
“Uh, okay?” I was dumbfounded by how quickly the two of them took on however many werewolves had just stormed down the hallway.
“It’s going to be the room on the right.
” Casually, I walked over to the door and opened it.
Although I had never entered the room this way before, I had been here enough to know exactly where it was. The essence of this place haunted me in my dreams, and while I wasn’t afraid of it like I used to be, the memories confined in this room were more than enough for double my lifetime.
Walking through, I kept my head down, making a beeline for the side door.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the chains hanging over the rafters over the freshly cleaned tub and the rusty dagger on the ground nearby.
The locked closet of my painting supplies was set off to the side.
Seeing everything from this perspective was odd and uncomfortable.
Being with others who were trying to help me while seeing it was also an odd sensation.
“Exit is right here.” My hand reached out and gripped the doorknob that would lead us out onto the side lawn of the auction house.
A cool hand landed on my shoulder, and I froze, eyes wide. “Wait,” Aiden said sternly. My chest tightened, and it was difficult to breathe. Was he changing his mind? Was this actually just a trick to get me in here?
Shit
Carefully, I dipped out from under his grip, and he pulled his hand away. “Do you know what it looks like out there? So we can prepare for the pack if they spot us.”
“Mmmm,” I acknowledged before swallowing and turning around to look at the two vampires.
“There are a lot of trees. Bushes line the side of the building.” They nodded, telling me they were aware of that.
“I believe he asked the packs to roam so no one is stationed anywhere. If that plan changed, I’m not aware of it. ”
“Okay, that’s good.” Milo nodded his head and chewed on his lip. His eyes shifted around the room. “We stick close together. That’s going to be the best bet. Aiden has a way with the wolves. We will get back into the city as quickly as possible.”
“Ew, don’t say it like that.” Aiden made a face at Milo, who just shrugged. “We will fend them off. However, we need to. Once we are off the property, it should be easy from there. Our car is near the exit, so leaving won’t be a problem.”
“Let’s do this.” Milo pushed the door open, and we walked into the night sky.